Knicks acquire Karl Anthony Towns from Wolves for Julius Randle Donte DiVincenzo

The New York Knicks have agreed to a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick via the Detroit Pistons for Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks will also send DaQuan Jeffries and set up compensation for the Charlotte Hornets to facilitate the trade.

The two sides have intensified talks on a deal in the past 24 hours. The Knicks have long been linked to Towns, but would enter the season particularly thin at center following the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein as a free agent and the injury to Mitchell Robinson.

Towns is entering the first year of his four-year, $220 million supermax extension with a salary of $49.3 million this season. During the 23-24 season, Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 32.7 minutes. Towns also previously played for Tom Thibodeau and was represented by Leon Rose until the agent left CAA to manage the Knicks. The city’s camp was said to be “baffled” due to the trade with the Knicks.

Randle has a $28.9 contract this season with a 25-26 player option worth $30.9 million. According to Ian Begleythe Knicks also discussed Randle trade scenarios with the Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat.

DiVincenzo signed a four-year, $50 million contract with the Knicks during the 2023 offseason and had a career season with 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 40.1 percent from three.